TUESDAY, Dec. 26, 2023 (HealthDay News) — Update on practice parameters published online Dec. 17 Allergy, asthma, and immunology recordsnew guidelines for the diagnosis and management of anaphylaxis are presented.
David B.K. Golden, M.D., Ph.D., of the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore, and colleagues focused on seven areas with new evidence to update recommendations for diagnosing anaphylaxis in pediatric and adult patients.
The authors note that the diagnostic criteria for anaphylaxis have been revised. Measurement of serum tryptase is important for diagnosing anaphylaxis and identifying the underlying mast cell disorder. Age-specific symptoms may be different in infants and young children than in older children and adults. No correlation was found between patient age and severity of reaction. Anaphylaxis is unlikely to be the first reaction to initial exposure to an allergen. Special measures for the prevention and treatment of anaphylaxis are required in a variety of community settings. Optimal prescribing and use of epinephrine auto-injectors requires special counseling and patient and caregiver training, including when and whether to call emergency medical services. If a patient has a rapid, complete, and durable response to prompt use of epinephrine, immediate initiation of emergency medical services may not be necessary. For adult patients with severe insect bite anaphylaxis or recurrent idiopathic anaphylaxis, evaluation for mastocytosis, including bone marrow biopsy, should be considered.
“These guidelines reflect recent advances in our understanding of severe allergic reactions and help all health professionals provide individualized care to each patient at the right time and in the right place, every time. We support this,” Professor Golden said in a statement.
Several authors disclosed financial ties to the pharmaceutical industry.
